The Love of Eros: Part 1

    For Valentine's Day at The River Bottom Writers it was all about love. Would you expect anything less? One of the writing prompts was "Valentine's Day from the perspective of Cupid." I didn't write about it at the time not until I got home did I truly give thought to it. What if Cupid fell in love? 
    Instead of Cupid I used Eros. After researching Eros and Valentine's Day, taking a few liberties, I wrote a short story about Eros falling in love with me. What would he see?
    The short story will be in three parts. Enjoy!!! Happy Writing!!! Keep Writing!!! And let the inspiration flow!!!
    Thanks Leslie for the edit!!!

LOVE OF EROS: PART 1

Red paper hearts littering the walls look out of place in the antique coffee shop. The proprietress, an unmistakable lover of the holiday, arranged each bow wielding cherub or lover statue with precision.  It is quiet inside no other soul is here to stir the freshness of tea and coffee aromas. I sit alone, on a Queen Anne chair by the window, the world outside busy with plans for a night of endless proclamations of love and eternal promises. My own herbal tea, a mixture of camomile and honeysuckle, sits undisturbed on the mahogany table. It is all for appearance, really, as I wait patiently, so, too does the Rocco sofa, positioned between stands holding neatly arranged bouquets in crystal vases, await lovers to come and sit on its cushioned seat.

I stare into the polished silver spoon as it catches the light passing through the multiple vaulted bare windows. This allows the natural light to illuminate the shop adding to the feel of long ago ages. That, along with the furnishings, is what appeals to her, the woman for whom I wait.

 I have watched her from the background, every day except for today, a hard task to accomplish since my duties require my constant attention. From the first day I saw her, almost a year ago, February 15^th, my heart beat for her, as it never did for Psyche, my first love. When I saw her reading to her mother in a hospital bed she glanced up smiling and laughing with her mother, it penetrated the barrier I had built after Psyche’s great betrayal.  My soul raged with the love that I spread to others.  A love not even my mother, Aphrodite, can understand.

Religiously she walks through the carved oak doors, which I face, each day since February 15^th. As time ticks closer to the hour of her coming i shift my long legs with worry and anticipation. Emotions, immortals should not exhibit; I have not felt since I was pitilessly seeking Psyche’s love. I begin to wonder would she go elsewhere on this day a day for lovers, the only day, I have away from my eternal duty. Would she be sought by another? I cannot abuse the powers I hold by making her fall in love with me. I cannot interfere in her life as I have done in others because I love her. I can only vie for her heart as a mortal suitor.

 Today, I am just a man seeking the love of a woman as I had done so long ago. Despite what the storytellers say Psyche and I did not live how the mortals say- happily ever after. Her sisters’ poisoned tongues slowly weakened then killed her love for me shattering my heart.  Mother suffered from my decaying presence and growing resolve not to continue this immortal life without Psyche. In her suffering she devised quests as a plea to Psyche to return to me. Again, her serpent-tongued sisters persuaded her to refuse the quests. The myths say Psyche completed those quests, were married, and even had children. At the time I wished it was so but with the passing of time the ache lessened and I saw her for what she was. 

For three hundred and sixty-four days during this calendar of the new world I bring mortals the love I was denied. However, Valentine’s Day is a day for lovers. Not to find love. That was my philosophy until today as I wait for my shy orchid to come.